Humidifier



P 1939- i R. w. GEISLER 2,171,691

HUMIDIFIER Filed Jan. 2, 1937 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFIER of Michigan Application January 2, 1937, Serial No. 118,776

1 Claim.

This invention relates to humidifiers, the obiect being to provide a humidiiying device of new and unique construction for maintaining a certain desired humid condition of the atmosphere 5?; of a room, a dwelling or other structures requiring a constant humidity of the air, which unit may be manually controlled or automatic in its operation.

A feature of the invention resides in the construction of a metal base formed to provide a passageway for heated gases to atmosphere and to provide a water pan thereabove automatically maintained with an adjustable level of water therein and a chambered element of chimney ['55 like form extending from the base to a grating preferably positioned in the floor of the building, heat being automatically applied thereto to cause evaporation of the water by action of a humido-- stat in response to certain dryness of atmosphere 20* in the room or confined space to which the water vapor is discharged.

A further object of the invention is to provide a humidifier having a grating adapted to suspend the apparatus below the floor of a room.

251- I am aware of structures heretofore provided for this purpose and the invention here disclosed distinguishes from previously known devices within my knowledge, particularly in the structural arrangement of the parts as well as in the 101 automatic control of a water and fuel supply in correspondence with the requirement for added moisture to the air of a room to maintain a substantially constant degree of humidity.

These and other objects and novel features of 251 the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and the preferred form and construction of a humidifier embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the principal portions of the structure and showing the water and fuel supply elements and the humidity control device which latter is shown in diagram-- matic form.

4': Fig. 2 is a section showing the heated gas passageway taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

The device in its preferred form comprises a preferably cast base I having a passageway 2 therein in which are preferably provided baffles 3,

50' 4 and 5. The bafiles, if used, may be staggered as shown in Fig. 2 or otherwise arranged to provide a tortuous passageway from the inlet end 53 to an outlet 1 which may be connected with a conduit (not here shown) leading to atmosphere.

The base I is open at its bottom and is provided with a cover element 8 secured in position as by screws. The plate 8 also has an opening therein in which is secured a tubular element 50 preferably formed of sheet metal which extends slightly into the member 8 and is secured in place as by screws 1 I. There is a sheet metal plate 42 extending across the opening in the plate 8 and this plate 12 has an opening to receive what I have termed a chimney 13 which is supported in place by a bracket M bolted or otherwise secured to one side of the element i9 and to an adjacent side of the chimney IS. The lower edge of the chimney has an outwardly bent portion 55 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The tubular member ii! at its lower end has secured thereto a cast cup shaped element it which is secured to the member H) as by screws ii and in this cupped member is provided a gas burner I8 at one side of which is a pilot light E9. The burners I8 are directly below the chimney element 13 while the flared portion l oi the chimney extends outwardly so that the gases of combustion rising from the pilot light are directed to the chimney and all the gases from the burner and pilot light pass out through the opening 6 and about the baflies in the passageway 2 to the outlet 1. Apertures 5G in the bottom of the cup member provide for fiow of air to the burner and pilot light. The member I has a dividing wall 23 intermediate its upper and lower edges forming the top of the passageway and bottom of a water pan 28 This wall is provided with a depression or recess 2| at one end and the remaining wall is slightly tapered upwardly from this point so that water will drain toward the recess wherein sediment may collect. Water, as hereinafter more fully described, is discharged into the recess 2! of this pan by a water pipe 22. The upper edge of the member forms the side walls of the pan and is flanged to which is secured an L shaped member 23. A sheet metal tubular element 24 is secured to the lshaped member 23 and extends upwardly therefrom.

The upper end of this element 24 has secured thereto a grating element 25 having a peripheral flange 26 that lies on the floor 21 about the opening 28 therein through which the tubular member 24 extends. construction shown, practically suspends the apparatus as will be understood from the drawing. Water is provided by means of a supply pipe 29 which has a round tubular outlet 30 to which is secured a T fitting 3| including a valve con- The grating member, in the trolled by the handle 32 and an outlet conduit 33 leading to a float chamber 34. The valve 32 is to be understood as being operable to open or close the supply conduit 24 to the conduit 33 leading to the float chamber which may be of an ordinary well known construction for maintaining a desired level of water in the pan. The bottom of the float chamber is connected by a threaded coupling 35a to a T member 35 which in turn is connected with the water inlet 22 of the pan. The threaded coupling 350. permits vertical adjustment of the float chamber to thereby vary the Water level in the pan. Likewise, there is a gas supply pipe 36 also having a screened tubular outlet 31 of the same general character as the outlet 30 for the water pipe. Both these elements 3! and 3! are secured in place in an aperture in their respective pipes by means of clamping elements 38. The outlet 31 for the gas line is connected with a gas conduit 39 which leads to a fitting 40 that in turn opens to the conduit 4| for supplying the burner l8 with gas. The conduit 39 is also provided with a fitting 42 with which is connected a conduit 43 supplying the pilot light. The fitting 40 is provided with a valve, the control wheel of which is indicated at 44 by means of which gas may be entirely out off from the burners if desired.

The pilot conduit is not here shown as being controlled by a valve but a valve may be provided if desired without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

The purpose of the conduit 43, when the device is in operation, is to provide a constant minimum quantity of gas to the pilot I9 by means of which the burners are ignited upon gas flowing thereto. To control a flow of gas to the burner I8, I have shown diagrammatically at 45 an electrically controlled valve by means of which the conduit 4| may be opened or closed. This valve is electrically controlled by the following circuit:

The main supply circuit is indicated at 46 and 4'! which connects with the commercial current supply line and a transform-er is indicated at 48 to reduce the amperage of current utilized, a line 49 extends to a humidostat 50 and thence by line 5| to the electrically controlled valve While the line 52 extends therefrom to the transformer 40.

The humidostat indicated at 50 may be of any of the known and approved commercial forms and includes a moisture responsive element which is indicated by the dotted lines 53 as connected with a movable arm of a switch indicated generally at 54 tensioned to open position. This moisture responsive element 53 on certain dryness in the atmosphere will contract and thus raise the arm 54 and complete the circuit through the lines 49 and 5| and thus energize the electrically controlled valve 45 to open the line 4| to gas flow to the burner.

The heat from the burners passes upwardly through the chimney l3 heating the wall 20 in its passage through the passageway 2 to the outlet Heating the wall, of course, causes water to vaporize and the vapor passes upwardly into the room through the grating 25 and when certain humidity is attained therein, the moisture responsive element 53 (which is positioned in the room) elongates and permits the switch arm 54 to drop which breaks the circuit and thus closes the electrically controlled valve 45.

The entire apparatus as heretofore described, is

automatic in its operation and responds exactly to the humidity of the atmosphere of the room or compartment being supplied with moisture causing operation of the device when the atmosphere in the room is of certain dryness and causing cessation of operation of the device when a certain degree of humidity is attained. The Water and gas supplies are also in constant readiness for use, the gas supply being controlled by the valve 45 as heretofore stated and the water supply being under an automatic control by a float valve through which a certain level of water is constantly maintained in the pan. Thus, without the necessity of attention by the user, the water is maintained at certain level in the pan and is automatically heated when necessary to provide more moisture and remains practically unheated under predetermined humid condition except such immaterial degree of heat as may be provided by the pilot light which is insufficient of itself to cause evaporation of the water in the pan.

It is also within the spirit and scope of this invention to provide a humidifying apparatus that may be manually controlled in which case the electrical circuit including the transformer 48, the humidostat 5E! and the electrically controlled valve 45 may be dispensed with. In such case, the gas would be controlled manually by the hand valve 44, the float valve maintaining the desired level of water in the pan as has heretofore been described, it being understood that a float construction is utilized that is adjustable to vary the Water level. The dividing wall 20 is preferably sharply inclined upwardly at its peripheral edge. With such construction, variation in water level in the pan will vary the evaporating surface whereby the volume of vapor discharged from the device per unit of time may be varied.

It is also pointed out that a wing nut 65 may be used to secure the flange 23 of the tubular element If) to the flanged upper edge of the base member a number of wing nuts being employed to securely hold the parts together so that the base and attached elements are suspended by the grating. By loosening the wing nuts, the casting may be lowered due to the conduits 43, 39 and 33 being flexible copper pipes or such pipes may be disconnected. The purpose of such re moval is to permit the operator to clean the water pan of deposits as well as the gas passageway 2.-

It is likewise to be understood that the float chamber 34, which is here shown in close proximity to the water pan, may be positioned at sufficient distance therefrom to avoid its becoming heated through influence of the heating element and thus cause deposition of solids in the float chamber.

While a gas burner is shown, other means of heating may be employed asmay be desired as an oil burner or an electric heater in which latter case the air stream would be heated and provide the heated gas to pass through the passageway 2.

It is further, in many cases desirable at least, to provide a blower shown diagrammatically at 6| and preferably connected by the circuit shown by dotted lines 62 and 53 to the circuit wires indicated generally at 5| and 52. This blower may have a conduit connected therewith leading to atmosphere or other room above the floor line 21 to discharge air into the conduit 24. The purpose of this is to carry the moisture into the room at some air speed to thereby disseminate the moisture in the atmosphere of the room and 75 the electrically controlled blower under the circuit arrangement stated will be controlled in its operation by the humidostat and thus only operate while heat is being applied to the water pan and vapors being produced.

It is to be realized from the foregoing, that an object of this invention is to provide a humidifier provided with a Water feed mechanism not subject to the heat of the humidifier and thus prevent precipitation of solids in the water therein and one in which a desired water level is automatically maintained in the pan and means for varying the level to vary the area of the evaporating surface and also to provide a humidifier of such construction as to prevent any of the gases and products of combustion from pass ng to the humidiiying chamber and thence t the atmosphere of the space being supplied with vapor.

I The various features of the invention are therefore to be enumerated as follows:

Adjustable water level in the water pana float chamber positioned to prevent lime deposits through applicaiton of heatease of cleaning of the device through ready separation of the parts to permit ready access-flue connection to atmosphere or to the chimney of a building a structure providing a chimney for the burner and preventing the extinguishment of flame, and preferably the positioning of the device with the grating or grille distant from an outside wall to prevent condensation of moisture.

It will be evident from the foregoing description, that the device is of simple construction and quite inexpensive in character requiring but very little machining as there are no joints through which water or gas could flow to the room in which the device is suspended. The humidostat, the float device and the electrically controlled valve being of a standard manufacture are well known in the trade and inexpensive in character. It is further believed evident from the foregoing, that the various features and objects of the invention are attained by the construction and arrangement of the parts described, and it is further to be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In a humidifier, a hollow base member having side Walls and a dividing wall between the upper and lower open faces, the dividing wall providing in conjunction with the upper portion of the side Walls a water pan and in conjunction with the lower portion of the side walls a heating chamber, a removable plate attached to the lower edge of the side walls and having an opening on one side, one of said side walls further having an opening to atmosphere beneath the dividing wall, a heater member comprising a heating element, a housing therefor having side Walls ex tending to and secured to the opening in the removable plate and providing in conjunction with the passageway a conduit for heated gases from the burner to atmosphere, a conduit connected with the upper edges of the side walls forming a passageway for water vapor, and a blower for discharging air into the said last named conduit.

RUSSELL W. GEISLER. 

